Sydney Swans: Most Fans, Least Loyal

[Go Swannies]

AFL Teams was more than usually annoying last night. The coverage of the Swans-Saints game naturally referred to the Cats win and they went off on a tangent about some Cats players and came back to move to the Saints players immediately. So the Swans coverage was mainly about the Cats. Weird.

[jono2707]

Roosey LURVS talking about the swans on "On the Couch" - and does a lot of it.
It's the way that he uses the terms "us" and "we" when he does that I love the most.

Generally, Sydney media don't give a rats.

Gotta love how Roosy does that!

It's so hard to come across meaningful ongoing dialogue on the AFL in general in Sydney media. There is some but not a great deal. Hopefully GWS will increase the exposure of AFL in Sydney from next year, and not halve the already minimal exposure the Swans get.

[AnnieH]

I as always agree with Big Al. The Swans get plenty of coverage on Fox shows.

Naturally, if you live in Melbourne you'll get more Melbourne team news.

Roosey LURVS talking about the swans on "On the Couch" - and does a lot of it.
It's the way that he uses the terms "us" and "we" when he does that I love the most.

Generally, Sydney media don't give a rats.

[Bas]

Is it surprising that Melbourne radio mainly discusses teams in Melbourne. They have an audience to cater to after all. It would be the same for Perth radio. I'd say the Weagles and Freo get a fair bit of air time on those stations.

As for the Fox shows, discussing 17 teams in an hour is a tough gig. I think the Swans get a reasonable run on those shows.

I as always agree with Big Al. The Swans get plenty of coverage on Fox shows.

Naturally, if you live in Melbourne you'll get more Melbourne team news.

[Big Al]

Is it surprising that Melbourne radio mainly discusses teams in Melbourne. They have an audience to cater to after all. It would be the same for Perth radio. I'd say the Weagles and Freo get a fair bit of air time on those stations.

As for the Fox shows, discussing 17 teams in an hour is a tough gig. I think the Swans get a reasonable run on those shows.

[Nico]

Not surprising given the promotion that Collingwood get down here.
When you have your team pushed in your face every time the TV is on, generating excitiment and building up the constant 'blockbuster' games, then more people will go. Add to that the way they are tracking and it's an easy conclusion.

Can't speak for the promotion the Swans games get in Sydney.

I admit that for the first time in my life my passion has waned for the Swans, as well as for my kids.
Lack of access to the games tends to do that.
I still follow them when I can - sit and listen to teh commentary on my computer (which gets a bit boring so I end up doing otehr things on my comp), and I go to the odd game when they're down here, but aside from that I kind of just 'keep an interest' until the finals which are very exciting because FTA is guarenteed

I suspect you also refer to the Collingwood and District Daily, aka the small paper The Herald Sun.

On those Fox Sports Shows this week you would think Colingwood was playing themselves in the finals. On Football 360 we got a cursory mention about the game being a war. More as an afterthought. In Melbourne they purely pander to the perceived audience. On SEN they give little news or discussion on interstate teams because they need to have a quota of talk back calls, most of which are from 3 or 4 Melbourne teams, plus the favoured "character" callers. If it was Richmond lamenting second bottom it would be done to death., but Port Adelaide; not a cracker. So much for a national competition.

[stellation]

I admit that for the first time in my life my passion has waned for the Swans, as well as for my kids.

When I first read that line I don't think I read it the way you intended!

[Nico]

So Collingwood fans are more loyal because one in three of them have been to a see them play in the last 12 months? Well, why wouldn't they go and watch them with the team and the success they've had in the last year?

This "Collingwood fans are more loyal" thing has annoyed the hell out of me for years. Being louder and more obnoxious DOESN"T make them more loyal! It just means they're louder and more obnoxious!

The Collingwood bandwagon had plenty of vacant seats when they were on the bottom. They are no less fickle than any other club supporters. When Essendon were going poorly in the late 90's not a red and black jumper or scarf was to be seen in the streets. When they started winning, every man and his dog barracked for them. When Hawthorn won the flag in 2008 a dead set tool was seen at the Hanging Rock races wearing his Hawthorn jumper, white footy shorts and Hawthorn socks. The only thing missing was footy boots. In 2009 when they were having a howler of a season people were remarking about the disappearance of the species from games with crowds at Hawthorn games down somewhat.

[CureTheSane]

Not surprising given the promotion that Collingwood get down here.
When you have your team pushed in your face every time the TV is on, generating excitiment and building up the constant 'blockbuster' games, then more people will go. Add to that the way they are tracking and it's an easy conclusion.

Can't speak for the promotion the Swans games get in Sydney.

I admit that for the first time in my life my passion has waned for the Swans, as well as for my kids.
Lack of access to the games tends to do that.
I still follow them when I can - sit and listen to teh commentary on my computer (which gets a bit boring so I end up doing otehr things on my comp), and I go to the odd game when they're down here, but aside from that I kind of just 'keep an interest' until the finals which are very exciting because FTA is guarenteed

[Kirkari]

Understand your point and I'm a big fan of the current Membership team, but the (or maybe even respond to them) comment worried me there. From what I know (my own experience), our current membership team is quite outstanding at responding to members concerns and feedback, but if a Membership team of any AFL club didn't respond to its member contact, no matter what it is, then they are one hell of a failure of a membership department. Nothing like disenfranchising your ONLY stakeholders by failing to make them feel like they have buy in.

Agreed. I wasn't saying it's ideal, or even that it's what happens, just pointing out that a lack of direct response to the member making the suggestion doesn't mean that it was ignored.

[jono2707]

Just my reflection on how the night went and what transpired afterwards. I know they said that a slogan came from a fan's suggestion but then you need to look at membership and attendance etc. They certainly hadn't thought of many on that night because very few were presented. That's why I think GWS will be good for improving benefits to both fan bases. Monopolies don't tend to worry about those sort of things.

I don't think the Swans, operating in an extremely difficult and competitive market here in Sydney, would consider themselves a monopoly. I'm not saying they're doing the best job marketing-wise or anything, but if they think that GWS are their first and only competitor then we've already lost the battle for the sporting dollar here in Sydney.

[Big Al]

They tried to resurrect them early in the year, but cancelled at the last minute.

Somebody left the sausages on the table and Big Al arrived early ...end of story.

Corrected for accuracy.

[Triple B]

I don't even think they do fans training sessions with the old sausage sizzle anymore. If they do, I haven't seen anything.

They tried to resurrect them early in the year, but cancelled at the last minute.

Somebody left the sausages on the table and Mummy arrived early for training...end of story.

[Bas]

I disagree with Bas's sentiments on the membership dept though. I believe they're very interested in improving membership and suggestions on how to do so. Just because they don't implement them (or maybe even respond to them) doesn't mean they're not considered. But like any time professionals get input from interested amateurs, I'm sure they get a lot more suggestions that they've already thought of and either tried or decided against for any number of reasons, than new, practical and effective ones.

Just my reflection on how the night went and what transpired afterwards. I know they said that a slogan came from a fan's suggestion but then you need to look at membership and attendance etc. They certainly hadn't thought of many on that night because very few were presented. That's why I think GWS will be good for improving benefits to both fan bases. Monopolies don't tend to worry about those sort of things.

I always find it funny when I see one particular bloke who's name I wont mention, at Swans games, and he is miked up like a Secret Service Agent. I can never reallly understand why considering the urgency of the response required.

Does make him look important though.

After reading Damien's thread, when the Kangaroos were in town in 98-99, I had a complaint and I can't even remember what it was now but Greg Miller rang me personally. Now that was impressive. Anyone had a personal response from any of of the Swans heirarchy that they can remember. I don't even think they do fans training sessions with the old sausage sizzle anymore. If they do, I haven't seen anything.

[Damien]

I disagree with Bas's sentiments on the membership dept though. I believe they're very interested in improving membership and suggestions on how to do so. Just because they don't implement them (or maybe even respond to them) doesn't mean they're not considered. But like any time professionals get input from interested amateurs, I'm sure they get a lot more suggestions that they've already thought of and either tried or decided against for any number of reasons, than new, practical and effective ones.

Understand your point and I'm a big fan of the current Membership team, but the (or maybe even respond to them) comment worried me there. From what I know (my own experience), our current membership team is quite outstanding at responding to members concerns and feedback, but if a Membership team of any AFL club didn't respond to its member contact, no matter what it is, then they are one hell of a failure of a membership department. Nothing like disenfranchising your ONLY stakeholders by failing to make them feel like they have buy in.